Tom Morrissey is 12 and was diagnosed with cancer last October - but in spite of it he takes it all in his stride.

He says he's not brave but his treatment and its side-effects speak for themselves.

He's had a seven week aggressive course of painful chemotherapy and is now preparing for a bone-marrow transplant.

He's lost his hair, is prone to bruising and suffers from bleeding gums.

But despite all this he has soldiered on - with the help of a stalwart family who are united in sharing whatever Tom is feeling and whatever he is going through.

And it's their love, closeness and strength that makes them so special, so bonded and so together in such a trying time for them all.

The way they are is such the family have decided to break the taboo and instead of withdrawing within themselves they want to share their experiences with the outside world - a kind of learning curve for others.

Tom's sisters, 14-year-old twins Anna and Lucy decided to mount the stage at Tytherington High - the school all three attend - and at a morning assembly tell their fellow pupils what life is like with someone they love, so sick.

Silence screamed as they spoke. Bullies, who had cruelly tormented Tom by racing off with a hat worn to cover his baldness, must have squirmed in their seats.

There was also an aching, akin to love, tearing at the heart of every man, woman and child seated in that hall the day the Morrissey family decided to share their waking nightmare with the outside world.

Getting people to talk about cancer - the Big C - is now the poster and fund-raising campaign of Year Eight pupils. Hopefully it will help dispel the myth regarding cancer.

And in recognition, Tytherington High is following the Macmillan Cancer Relief CancerTalk curriculum which brings awareness into the classroom.

As for Tom, who returns to school in September after six months chemotherapy at Pendlebury Children's Hospital, he's looking towards his future.

Because it took so long for him to go into remission, specialists have decided to give him a bone-marrow transplant at the end of the month, provided by sister Anna - the only family member with a compatible match.

He wasn't even ill when he was diagnosed with cancer. Tom and his sisters had simply gone for a routine check-up over an inherited blood disorder when it was discovered he had acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.

At first he was understandably scared. But soon he came to understand all about his illness and accept it.

"I don't like hospitals," says Tom. "I've never really got used to them.

"The first time I returned home from a long stay in hospital I just burst into tears because I was so glad to be back."

He adds his two sisters are always joking with him.

"They even say that my hair looks like bum fluff," he laughs. "But I don't mind, there's no point in always being upset about it."

Anna, who has a 95 per cent bone-marrow match, says: "I'm not a needle person, but I don't mind really. I am the only member of the family with a match so of course I am going to help."

Tom's 41-year-old mum Alison was working in Macclesfield Hospital's Stroke Rehabilitation when she heard the news about her son's condition.

"I couldn't believe it. Of course I have had a cry about it but it's not worth it really. I don't see any point in going down that road. We need to stay happy for each other.

"It helps a great deal to see Tom being so brave. He has never really complained but if he does, we know that he must be in pain.

"We do get upset but it's just a way of life for us now."

After problems with bullies, Lucy and Anna decided to tell people at school to make them understand.

"We told them Tom hadn't just cut his hair funny, he was actually quite poorly."

And although Tom - a keen Manchester City supporter - misses playing football and even admits missing school, he has become rather comfortable watching daytime television at home.

"He's always watching cooking programmes," jokes Lucy. "When we try to talk to him he will say, 'hang on a minute, they are making a pie today'.

"Tom even tries to get out of eating vegetables by saying that he feels ill but as soon as the chocolate cake comes out, he feels much better."

Lucy adds: "This is the kind of thing that happens to 'other people'. Now we are the 'other people' and we have managed to get through this together."

Alison says: "People are always frightened when they hear the word 'cancer'. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to accept but now we know the truth about it, it really isn't as bad as everyone thinks.

"I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy but this disease is curable, and we have seen it first hand."